Observations focused on the problems of an underdeveloped country, Venezuela, with some serendipity about the world (orchids, techs, science, investments, politics) at large. A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, referred to oil as the devil's excrement. For countries, easy wealth appears indeed to be the sure path to failure. Venezuela might be a clear example of that.

from the comfort of his office, entitled “Regulations for the behavior of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces acting in order to control public order, social peace and the coexistence of citizens in public meetings and protests”

These regulations clearly violate the Constitution, it is not a law, because the Minister of Defense does not approve laws, even if his name is Godfather and because according to the Venezuelan Constitution, the Armed Forces are not part of the security forces.

And it gets worse…

The Interamerican Commission on Human Rights has explicitly banned the use of the Armed Forces on matters of internal security, explicitly stating that the military should only participate when national security matters are involved.

And it gets even worse:

The first part says: “The acting unit will warn the people that participate in a public meeting or protest about the progressive and differentiated use of force..“

So, this “resolution” allows the use of force (!!) and explicitly violates the Constitution, allowing the Armed Forces to participate in the control of precisely what the Constitution bans them from doing…

And then it states that the armed forces should go to “extremes” not to use force against pregnant women, boys, girls, adolescents, older people, people with special needs or other “vulnerable” people… Note it does not say they can not use force against them, just go to extremes not do so…after the extremes, repress…

But, hey! If you have to, you have to, use the force, that is what Dictatorships do after all…

Should I go on…the fascism goes on too…

“The Armed Forces will have methods and means that will allow the equipment and permanent training of the military personnel for the progressive and differentiated use of force…and the use of force as situational punishment .

You have to love how clueless these guys are about what human rights are…or how fascist they are.,,

I could go on, but I would throw up. The Maduro Government just created the “legal” instrument to keep using the same force in repressing protests. Because once the Government begins getting less than US$ 50 per barrel, the “people” are going to be very pissed and force (no limits! It’s legal!) will be used..

There is nothing “disguised” about this Dictatorship…now that oil does not guarantee their survival, repression will. Or might?

How far in arrears are the oil shipment payments? And how much further until this money hits the government accounts? You said you thought they were getting the money from the $80/bbl sales. That was last July. Does that imply there is a 6 month lag. I would have guessed it to be more like 30 days for payment and another month to transfer to the government, but I don’t know much about oil.

At $40/bbl PDVSA must be having trouble making payroll, much less government kickbacks.

Mick, don’t forget those PetroCaribe dollars, which is long-term and low rate financed, of which Venezuela won’t see payment for many years.

And with the current low price of oil everywhere, and VZ’s inability to continue great financing at just 40, 45 bucks a barrel, these nations are no longer “influenced” to buy mostly from VZ. And I doubt there’s anything in the PetroCaribe agreements obligating them to do so.

Please do, I felt threatend when Bloomberg for hire writer talked about you,
And took a away what I dreamed about you!, and thats it, feels very childish or weird of you expecting a different response! don´t meet heroes cause they will wine and make dogs go into pain!

I don’t think so. There are quite a few differences. Most of them aren’t attributable to the population, but to past traditions, history, and a really unique confluence of events which put a small group of great thinkers in the same place at the same time. These men crafted the USA Constitution. If the USA had had a well armed population and the other parts had been missing it would have never been what it is. Slavery would have been legal much longer. Maybe the USA would have evolved to be a BBQ and rodeo loving slaver empire.

What we see evolving in Cubazuela is the unique confluence of very bad guys with a flood of petrodollars, incapable presidents focused on Israeli concerns rather than lookng out for number, and very selfish and complacent elites all over the world.

I’m afraid that these bad guys we see in Cuba are pulling strings in venezuela, and they are financing communists elsewhere. These communists wear masks, but they are focused on the same repressive oligarch control of society. I think they are much more dangerous than Islamists…but the “Western” narrative is always going to focus on Israel.

This means we are likely to see an inmense amount of suffering, and eventually we may see a nuclear war. And the Second Amendment won’t save you from that.

Miguel Octavio, the revolutinary lexicon doesn’t include “consumer”. After they get store upper management they go for clinic administrators, the few remaining news persons…and bloggers and twitterers.

It’s obvious that the barrio has lost the fire in its belly for protest. Yes, it’s been argued that as things get worse, the people will take to the streets as never been seen before, but that’s surely no guarantee:

I mean, Cubans have had to be satisfied with chicken/meat only once a week for many years, and the only Cubans with any balls are little old ladies.

Could this latest edict be a predictor that they’re going to release Leopoldo, the only one (of two, plus maybe Machado) who’s capable of getting people fired up and onto the streets?

Translated as
“The use of firearms and toxic substances in the control of public demonstrations is forbidden. The law will regulate the conduct of police and security bodies in the control of public order.”

Would a better translation not be the following:
“The use of firearms and toxic substances in the control of peaceful demonstrations is forbidden. The law will regulate the conduct of police and security bodies in the control of public order.”

Turning the military against the government is the key to ending Chavismo.

The generals ( perhaps thousands of them have been promoted in recent years) are corrupt. And all military staff have salaries that tend to rise with inflation. The military is fearful of ending their positions.

However, military have families, extended families, and friends that are hurt by the poverty, shortages, lack of jobs, crime, lack of medical care, lack of freedoms, lack of an independent judiciary, etc. If only 20 percent of the people support Maduro then probably less than 20 percent of the military support Maduro but they cannot say it.

The soldiers are brave and will fight if ordered. However, will they be willing to kill their primos, tios, nietos, cunados, vicinos, etc that may be protesting? Moreover, will they be willing to risk their own lives for a government they know is wrong.

Actions-
1. Let the military know they are acting under illegal orders from corrupt officials who live comfortable lives at their expense. Domestic disturbances are not the military’s responsibility.

2. Let the military know they will be filmed and their actions will be covered around the world in real time.

3. This is controversial but let the military know that the people are not defenseless and can strike back. Guns are everywhere in Vzla including police forces. Make the military very afraid of entering the barrios or being caught alone at any hour.

4. The military is controlled by Cubans who have no mercy for ordinary Venezuelans. Push hard for Obama to demand that all Cubans leave Venezuela before normal relations are restored with the United States. I am working on this one.

5. Prayer. Let the welfare of all citizens be paramount, let the country become peaceful, let Venezuela have good government, let the eyes of Chavistas open so they know what has been created, and finally bury Chavez and all the propaganda to let the truth of his regime be known.

I do believe that he has a point about the individual soldiers being reluctant to fire upon fellow citizens. That is a message that should be reinforced by the Opposition: “We are your brothers and sisters. There are orders, but there is also a duty to the citizens of your country. Your job is to defend Venezuelans, not kill them.”

the shootdown was not with missiles but with the gatling gun on the F-16. It fires 20mm rounds. They got right up close to the downed aircraft. Curious in whose airspace and waters did shootdown occured.

Susan Rice hopefully learned something with the El Pollo Aruba fiasco. Sealed indictment against the leadership and you have to start looking at Panama and Manuel Noriega for history lessons. The current window is two years before change of administration and Republicans move in the WH. The situation is escalating.

the shootdown yesterday is troublesome and worrisome. There was no radio warning or warning shots fired AFAIK. It was a hunt. The incident looks very staged. They had two F-16s in Barquisimeto on quick reaction alert (armed and fueled ready for takeoff). My guess this shootdown was in response to the bodyguard who defected. The pilots of that aircraft where sacrificed. Very underhanded and callous. They are already spilling blood over Diosdado’s assumed sealed indictment. An indictment that I do not expect will be unsealed for that is akin to act of war.

We all know what comes next. “Legal” capital punishment for espionage and treason. Like in in most communist countries. The Cubans seem to have moved to the next stage in repression and no longer use firing squads: just car accidents and things like that.